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Z. Melaku, G. Assefa, G. Astrom, F. Enquselassie, K. Bjorvatn and R. Tekle Haimanot, “Epidemiological of skeletal fluorosis in wonji Shoa Sugar Estate, Wonji, Ethiopia, A Community Based Survey,” Ethiopian Medical Journal, Vol. 50, 2012, pp. 307-313.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Chronic Alcohol Consumption and the Development of Skeletal Fluorosis in a Fluoride Endemic Area of the Ethiopian Rift Valley

  AUTHORS: Redda Tekle-Haimanot, Gebeyehu Haile

  KEYWORDS: Fluoride; Skeletal Fluorosis; Ethiopian Rift Valley; Alcohol Consumption

  JOURNAL NAME: Journal of Water Resource and Protection, Vol.6 No.2, February 25, 2014

  ABSTRACT: This study compared the occurrence of skeletal fluorosis in chronic consumers of locally brewed alcoholic beverages and their matched controls in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. The study revealed that chronic alcohol consumers developed severe forms of crippling skeletal fluorosis quite early in life. The controls were either symptom-free or exhibited mild forms of the fluorosis. The study showed that crippling skeletal fluorosis was directly associated with the large volumes of the locally brewed beer and honey-mead consumption on a daily basis. Chemical analysis of the alcoholic beverages showed that high concentration of fluoride which was much higher than the fluoride in the water was used for the brewing process. From this study one would conclude that in communities residing in high fluoride areas, there should be awareness creation campaigns to point out the relationship of excessive consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks and skeletal fluorosis. Regulations should also be put in place to require producers of local alcoholic beverages to use low fluoride water for brewing.